Apparatus for affixing stencil labels to sheet material of indeterminate length



July 2, 1968 J J QUINN 3,391,046

APPARATUS FOR AFFITKIN G STENCIL LABELS TO SHEET MATERIAL OFINDETERMINATE LENGTH Filed March 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. QUINN ATT NEYS y 2, 1968 J. J. QUINN 3,391,046

APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING STENCIL LABELS TO SHEET MATERIAL OF INDETERMINATELENGTH Filed March 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o N g Q n n g K m 1 2 v 1 vQ T' T x 2 (\I N o 3 cu 8i m ooooooooo oooooooddbooocoo 2| |1l 1 I o w 9Q 3 00 Q oooooc N r n O n o N 2 uovo Q m H 3 8 '1 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. QUINN July 2, 1968 J. J. QUINN 3,391,046

APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING STENCIL LABELS TO SHEET MATERIAL OF INDETERMINATELENGTH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 22, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. QUINN AT TO July 2, 1968 J J QUINN 3,391,046

APPARATUS FOR AFFIiIN G STENCIL LABELS TO SHEET MATERIAL OFINDETERMINATE LENGTH 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 22, 1966 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. QUINN ATT NEYS United States Patent Oflice 3,391,046 PatentedJuly 2, 1968 assignor to Dymo Ina corporation of The present inventionrelates generally to apparatus for afiixing stencil labels upon sheetmaterial of indeterminate length and pertains, more specifically, toapparatus wherein such stencil labels may be aflixed in selected1ongitudinal spaced relationship upon sheet material of indeterminatelongitudinal length when the stencil labels are of the type which aresecured to the sheet material by pressing at least a portion of thelabel against the surface of the sheet material.

Stencil assemblies in the form of relatively small labels are assumingincreased importance in business operations where it is desirable toprepare several documents, each having identical information thereon.For example, the same name and address may be placed upon a shippinglabel or directly upon a Shipping carton and upon an invoice or packingslip by preparing a master stencil simultaneous with the preparation ofthe invoice or packing slip and then employing the stencil for markingthe shipping label or carton. In many instances these invoices, packingslips or other documents are prepared from sheet material ofindeterminate length which is printed with the desired business forms sothat a continuous length of sheet material containing a series of formsof predetermined length may be fed through a typewriter or othercharacter-forming business machine which will imprint the necessary dataon successive forms. The sheet material is usually perforated betweencontiguous forms to allow subsequent separation of the sheet intoindividual documents. Generally, the continuous length of sheet materialis provided with a series of equidistantly spaced apertures alignedlongitudinally adjacent each lateral boundary of the sheet so that thesheet can be advanced through the various business machines whichoperate upon the sheet by the engagement of an advancing mechanismhaving pins which will enter the apertures and move forward topositively feed the sheet material without a cumulative gain or lossover long lengths.

Since the above business forms are handled in continuous length, itbecomes desirable to affix the stencil labels to the sheet materialwhile it is still in continuous length so that the business forms arecomplete with an attached stencil label when the forms arrive at acharacter-forming station. The stencil assemblies themselves are usuallyprovided with some means for securing the relatively small stencil labelto the surface of the sheet material, the means ordinarily being in theform of a pressure sensitive adhesive. While these stencil labels couldbe affixed manually by positioning and pressing each label against thesheet material at a desired location, it would be advantageous to haveavailable an apparatus which could relieve at least some of the manuallabor to simplify and accelerate the label affixing operation, as wellas increase the accuracy of placement.

It is therefore an important object of the invention to provideapparatus for accurately locating and affixing stencil labels to sheetmaterial of indeterminate length in a simple yet rapid and effectivemanner.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed above wherein a stencil label may be placed in juxtaposedrelationship with the sheet material with ease and the apparatus maythen be actuated to affix the label and advance the sheet material overa predetermined increment to ready the sheet material for theapplication of another label.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thetype described above wherein label afiixing means are located in suchrelationship to a labeling station in the apparatus that free access ismaintained for placement of a label in position to be affixed to thesheet material.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described above wherein the increment of advancement of thesheet material may be varied at will to select differences in thelongitudinal spacing of the stencil labels along the continuous sheetmaterial and thus allow the apparatus to accommodate a variety ofbusiness forms of different longitudinal lengths.

A still further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thetype described employing transport means which attain accurate controlof the increment of advancement of the sheet material so as to precludecumulative error in the location of the stencil labels placed thereonwhich might otherwise result from gain or loss in the length of sheetmaterial advanced during each cycle of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the characterdescribed wherein simplified means are provided for operating theafiixing means and transport means through a predetermined cycle from acommon drive means which is selectively actuated through a given cycleof operation.

The above objects are attained in the apparatus of the invention whichmay be described briefly as apparatus for affixing stencil labels inselected longitudinal spaced relationship upon sheet material ofindeterminate longitudinal length, the labels being of the type whichare secured to the sheet material by pressing at least a portion of thelabel against the surface of the sheet material, the apparatuscomprising a housing, a labeling station associated with the housing,first means for locating at least a portion of the sheet material at thelabeling station, second means for supporting and locating a label inposition relative to the sheet material and the labeling station suchthat at least a portion of the label may be pressed against the surfaceof the sheet material at a desired location thereon at the labelingstation, drive means capable of being selectively actuated through atleast one complete cycle, afiixing means for striking at least a portionof the label in position in the second means and pressing that portionagainst the surface of the sheet material thereby affixing the label tothe sheet material in response to the actuation of the drive meansthrough a complete cycle, the affixing means being movable at least onceduring the cycle between a first position lying away from the label inthe second means and a second position lying against at least the aboveportion of the label and pressing that portion against the surface ofthe sheet material at the labeling station, and transport means forlongitudinally advancing the sheet material with the affixed labelrelative to the labeling station through at least one selected incrementequal to the length of the longitudinal spacing desired between afiixedlabels in response to the actuation of the drive means through acomplete cycle.

The invention will be more fully understood and further objects andadvantages will become apparent in the following detailed description ofan embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing,in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating schematically the operationperformed by an apparatus of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of an apparatus constructed in accordance withthe invention with portions removed to show various component parts;

- FIGURE. 3 isan enlarged cross'sectional view taken along line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2 showing the motor and drive means of the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIGURE 2 showing component parts of an affixing means;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 withthe component parts inanother. operating position;

FIGURE'6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 66 ofFIGURE -2; 1

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the apparatus withportions removed to expose operating components;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view similar to FIGURE 7 withthe component parts advanced to another position;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end elevational view sim-. ilar to FIGURE 8with the component parts advanced to still another position; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary end elevational view of'a portion of FIGURE 9with further component partsin another position to illustrate theselection of the increment of advancement of the sheet material passingthrough the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates an indeterminatelength of sheet material in the form of paper sheet 19 which is handledand stored in the form of a roll 12 from which the sheet is dispensed asneeded. Sheet 16 is divided int-o discrete lengths by lateral lines ofperforations 14, each of the lengths having printed lines 15 thereon toestablish a business form such as an invoice 16 for the purchase ofgoods between pairs of pref-orate lines. In order to enable accuratefeeding of sheet 10 from roll 12 and through business machines whichwill imprint the necessary data on each invoice 16, the sheet isprovided with a series of-equidistantly spaced apertures 18 alignedlongitudinally adjacent each of the lateral edges of the sheet. As seendiagrammatically, a stencil assembly in the form of a relatively smallstencil label 20 is to be affixed at a predetermined location on eachinvoice 16; in this instance at the position where the name and addressof the purchaser of the goods is to be placed. Stencil label 20 is anassembly made up of a stencil sheet 22 associated with some form ofduplicating means such as a carbon layer 24 and an adhesive means suchas a length of pressure sensitive adhesive tape 26. The pressuresensitive adhesive tape secures the stencil label to the surface ofsheet 10 at a predetermined location on each invoice so that when sheet10 is carried into a character-forming i business machine (not shown),the imprinting operation of that machine will cut a master stencil instencil sheet 22 and simultaneously print the same information upon theinvoice by virtue of the carbon layer 24. Stencil sheet 22 can then beremoved from the invoice and employed to mark the carton in which thepurchased goods are shipped while invoice 16 has already been imprintedwith the necessary information. The apparatus of the invention is showndiagrammatically at and serves to position and secure stencil labels 20upon sheet 10 in longitudinally spaced relationship to assure that eachinvoice 16 is provided with a properly located, attached stencil label20, as will be explained below.

Turning now to FIGURE 2, apparatus 30 is seen to have a housing 32 whichis assembled of several component parts placed about the frame 33 of theapparatus, at least one of which parts provides first means in the formof a platen 34 over which paper sheet 16 is passed and upon which thesheet 10 is supported. Located vertically above the platten 34 is asecond means shown in the form of tray 36 providing a platform uponwhich a stencil label 20 may be placed as illustrated in phantom. Tray36 is spaced vertically from platen 34 so that sheet 10 can pass freelybetween the tray and the platen (also see FIG- URE 7). A first locator38 is fixed upon the tray by means of thumb screw 40-whichpasses-through slot42 in the tray and may be moved by loosening thethumb screw so that a locating edge 44 is provided for positioning astencil label upon the tray with a portion 46 of the stencil label,which portion carries a pressure sensitive adhesive on the undersidethereofifextending' beyond the tray "and overlapping the sheet lyinguponthe platen. A second locator 47 is integral withthe left mar'ginal edgeof thetray also see FIGURE 7) to provide a locatingiedge for the leftmarginal 'boundarybf the stencil label 20,.Tray 36 is mounted forsliding movement along bar 48 so that by moving tray 36 laterally andmoving locator 38 within j slot 42, stencil labels of a variety of sizesmaybe placed in juxtaposed relationship with sheet 16 and positioned atany number of loc'atio'ns across theshe'et. Thus, a labeling station-50is establishedatthe place where the extending portion 46 of the stencillabel 20 overlaps the sheet 10, at which station the adhesive means ofthe label is in position tobe pressed against thesurface'of the sheet. I

' Positioned vertically above the tray 36, and above the stencil labeltherein, is an affixing means shown in the form of a pressure padassembly 54 which includes a pressure pad 56 (also see FIGURE 7) whichis mounted for sliding movement with respect to a pressure bar 58 andwhich may be positioned at any desired lateral location along thepressure bar 58 by moving handle 60 which is fixed to the pressure padso that the handle and the pad move as a unit and may be placedinlongitudinal alignment with the stencil label as illustrated. Pressurepad assembly 54 is movable from a first position shown in FIGURES 2, 4and 7 tea second position shown in FIGURE 5 where the pressure pad 56strikes the overlapping portion 46 of the stencil label and pressesportion 46 against the surface of sheet 10 to secure the stencil labelupon the sheet in a manner which will be explained shortly. It is notedthat the first position described above places the pressure pad assembly beyond the forwardmarginal edge 62 of the tray and the forwardmarginal boundary 64 of the stencil label therein so that free access tothe tray is maintained and a stencil label may be dropped verticallyinto the tray in position above the labeling station withoutinterference from the pressure pad assembly. In adidtion, while both theplatten 34 and tray 36 extend in generally horizontal planes, the planeof the tray is actually placed at an angle to that of the platen so thatthe overlapping portion 46 of the stencil label in the tray will be incloseproximity with the surface of the sheet 10 (see FIGURES 4, 5 and 7)while enough vertical spacing is provided between the rearward marginaledge 66 of the tray and the platen to allowsheet 10 to be threadedbetween the tray and the platen without difficulty.

, Apparatus 30 is provided with an electric motor '76} arranged tooperate continuously as long as electric current is supplied throughline cord 72 and electric switch 74 to the motor, the electric switch 74serving as a convenient means for turning the apparatus on and off. ASbest seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the apparatus includes drive means shownin the form of a drive shaft 76 rotatably mounted in the apparatus andcarrying a clutch 78 which couples the drive shaft to a pulley 80 whichin turn is coupled to the motor through the drive belt 82 and drivepulley 34. Ordinarily, the drive shaft is at rest, even though switch 74may be turned on and motor 70 may be running, by virtue of tooth 86 ofthe clutch engaging a latch 88 to force the clutch to disengage pulleyfrom drive shaft 76 and allow the motor, pulleys and drive belt to runfree.

When sheet 10 is in place upon the platen and a stencil label is inposition on the tray, the pressure pad assembly is actuated bydepressing pedal switch 96 (FIG- URE 2) to energize a solenoid 92 whichwill disengage the latch 88 from the tooth 86, as seen in phantom inFIGURE 3, by drawing link 94 toward the solenoid and pivoting the latchin a clockwise direction about pivot point 96 against the bias force ofspring 98. In this manner, tooth 86 is rendered free to rotateclockwise, as shown in phantom, and clutch 78 will engage pulley 80 withthe drive shaft 76 to allow motor 70 to rotate the drive shaft. Uponde-energization of the solenoid, the latch 88 is returned to the initialposition in the path of tooth 86 by spring 98 and upon completion of afull revolution the drive shaft will again be disengaged from the pulley80 by the clutch. During one revolution of the drive shaft, however, thepressure pad assembly 54 will complete one full cycle of operation, asis best described in connection with FIGURES 2, 4 and 5.

Pressure bar 58 is mounted at each end thereof to a bracket 100 which,in turn, is supported by an arm 102 by means of a pair of pins 104 fixedto arm 102 and each passing through a slot 106 in bracket 100 such thatbracket 100 is slidable in a vertical direction with respect to arm 102.Each arm 102 is pivotally mounted to the frame 33 of the apparatus byrods 108 so that the pressure pad 56 becomes movable in both forward andrearward directions by virtue of the pivotal movement of arms 102 andindependently movable vertically upward and downward by virtue of thepin and slot connections between arms 102 and brackets 100. Brackets100, and the pressure pad assembly carried thereby, are normally biasedrearwardly and downwardly by springs 110 which are each fixed at one endto a bracket and at the other end to the frame of the apparatus. Inorder to actuate the pressure pad assembly, a pair of cams 112 and 114,are fixed to the drive shaft 76 adjacent each end of the pressure padassembly such that each pair of cams will cooperatively engage acorresponding pair of followers 116 and 118 carried by the bracket 100and arm 102, respectively. As best seen in FIGURE 4, pressure padassembly 54 is normally maintained in the first position, whereinpressure pad 56 lies vertically above sheet and stencil label 20 andbeyond the overlapping portion 46 and the forward marginal boundary 64of the stencil label as explained above, against the bias of each spring110 by virtue of each cam 112 urging corresponding follower 116 andbracket 100 upwardly and each cam 114 urging corresponding follower 118and arm 102 forward. As drive shaft 76 rotates, cams 112 and 114 rotateto allow follower 116 and bracket 100 to drop downward and follower 118and arm 102 to pivot rearwardly to bring pressure pad assembly 54 intothe second position illustrated in FIGURE 5, wherein pressure pad 56strikes the overlapping portion 46 of the stencil label 20 and pressesportion 46 against the surface of sheet 10 to secure the stencil labelto the sheet by virtue of the pressure sensitive adhesive on theunderside of that portion of the stencil label. Upon continuedrevolution of the drive shaft, the pressure pad assembly is returned tothe first position so that one complete revolution of the drive shaftwill actuate the pressure pad assembly through one complete cycle ofoperation from the first position to the second position and return.Note that the contours of cams 112 and 114 assure that the pressure padis brought against the stencil label and sheet for only a relativelysmall portion of the full revolution of the drive shaft and during themajor portion of the cycle the pressure pad assembly is either dwellingat the first position or traveling between the first and secondpositions.

After the stencil label 20 is affixed to the surface of sheet 10 it isnecessary to advance the sheet, with the attached stencil label, apredetermined length so that another stencil label may be similarlyafiixed at a desired location spaced longitudinally from the firstaffixed stencil label. As explained above, it is essential that thelongitudinal spacing be accurate so that each stencil label isaccurately located on each business form printed on sheet 10. Apparatus30 provides transport means for longitudinally advancing the sheet withthe aflixed stencil label through a selected increment equal to thelength of the longitudinal spacing desired between afiixed labels inresponse to the rotation of the drive shaft through one completerevolution as will now be described.

Turning to FIGURES 2 and 6, apparatus 30 is provided with a pair oftractor mechanisms 120, each mounted upon a support rod 122 whichextends laterally across the apparatus and is fixed to frame 33. Eachtractor mechanism has a slide plate 124 upon which sheet 10 is made torest. An endless chain 126 passes around a drive sprocket 128 and anidler sprocket 130 and carries a series of pins 132 which pass through aslot 133 in the slide plate 124 and are longitudinally spaced to matchthe spacing of the apertures 18. A pressure plate 134 is biased towardthe slide plate 124 by means of a spring 136 and also has a slot 138into which the pins 132 may pass. Sheet 10 is made to pass between theslide plate and the pressure plate with the pins 132 passing throughapertures 18 and the pressure plate assuring that the sheet 10 will notbecome disengaged from the pins. Sheet 10 is thus positively engaged andmay be advanced by movement of endless chain 126. Such movement isimparted by rotation of drive sprocket 128 which is operatively engagedwith a drive rod 140 through a drive plate 142 having a key 144 engagingkey slot 146 in the drive rod. The drive plate is radially adjustablewith respect to the drive sprocket by virtue of slots 148 through whichscrews 1S0 pass, the screws connecting the drive plate 142 with thedrive sprocket 128 so that upon loosening of the screws minoradjustments in the longitudinal location of pins 132 relative to theangular position of drive rod 140 may be made to assure accurateregistration of sheet 10 with the labeling station 50. Drive rod 140,like support rod 122 extends laterally across the apparatus, but issupported adjacent each end by the frame for rotation therein as will beexplained shortly.

At least one of the tractor mechanisms 120 is slidable along the supportrod and the drive rod so that the lateral spacing between the mechanismsmay be varied to accommodate a variety of widths in sheet 10. Thus, theright-hand tractor mechanism illustrated in FIGURE 6 is provided withbushings 152 and 154 slidably mounting the mechanism upon rods 122 and140. In order to fix the mechanism in place along the rods 122 and 140,a lock member 156 may be frictionally engaged with support rod 122 bymerely tightening thumb screw 158 which will draw lock member 156against the support rod. Conversely, loosening of the thumb screw willrender the mechanism slidable along the rods. Key slot 146 extendsessentially along the entire length of drive rod 140 to enable thetractor mechanism to be driven at any chosen lateral location.

Drive rod 140 is coupled with drive shaft 76 so that upon rotation ofdrive shaft 76 through one revolution as described above, the tractormechanisms are actuated to advance the sheet 10 through onepredetermined increment of length after a stencil label is attached bythe pressure pad assembly which is also actuated in response to rotationof the drive shaft 76. Looking now at FIG- URES 2 and 7 through 10, acrank 160 is fixed for rotation with drive shaft 76 at one end thereofand carries a connecting link 162 having a slot 164 engaged by a drivepin 166 anchored in a sector 168 mounted upon the frame 33 for rotationabout point 170. A spring 172 is fixed at one end 174 to sector 168 andat the other end 176 to connecting link 162 and biases the sector to theright, as seen in FIGURE 7, so that the drive pin 166 bottoms in theslot 164 as shown, the bias force being great enough so that uponrotation of the drive shaft 76 and crank 160 in the counterclockwisedirection, as indicated in FIGURE 7, sector 168 is rotated in the samedirection to rotate a drive segment shown in the form of gear segment178, fixed to the sector 168 by screws 179, which segment is engagedwith a pinion 180. Pinion 180 is coupled to drive rod 140 by means of aclutch 182 (FIGURE 2) which engages the pinion with the drive rod onlyupon rotation of the pinion in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, driverod 140 remains stationary during rotation of the pinion as seen in FIG-URE 7 so that the tractor mechanisms will not be actuated during suchrotation. Continued rotation of crank 160 will bring gear segment 178into contact with stop means shown in the form of a stationarystop-screw 184, as seen in FIGURE 8, whereupon the gear segment will bestopped; however, further rotation of crank 160 is permitted by virtueof slot 164 in connecting link 162 which provides a lost motion means inconnection with spring 172, the bias force of the spring being overcometo allow the spring to elongate and permit sliding motion between slot16$ and drive pin 166 so that the crank and drive shaft 76 may continueto rotate without i'riterruption. Upon further rotation of crank 160,the connecting link will again engage the drive pin 166, as seen inFIGURE 9, and the gear segment 178 will be driven in a clockwisedirection thereby rotating the pinion 189 in a counterclockwisedirection, allowing clutch 182 to engage the pinion with the drive rod149 so that such clockwise rotation of the gear segment 178 will actuatethe tractor mechanisms 129 causing the pins 132 to be moved forward andthe sheet 10 to be advanced. Clockwise rotation of gear segment 178 andthe concomitant advancement of sheet 10 will continue until the motionof the connecting link is reversed by continued rotation of the crank,at which point the gear segment will abut a second stationary stop-screw186 which is fixed to the frame of the apparatus to positively confinethe motion of the gear segment so that the segment will remain engagedwith the pinion. Thus, it will be apparent that the increment ofadvancement of the sheet is directly proportional to the arcuatedistance traveled by the gear segment between first stop-screw 184 andsecond stopscrew 186 which establish positions defining the limits ofrotation of the gear segment. By careful setting of the arcuate travelof the gear segment, the increment of advancement may be accuratelycontrolled, the tractor mechanisms achieving accurate feed by virtue ofthe positive engagement of the pins 132 with apertures 18.

The timing between actuation of the aflixing means and actuation of thetransport means is determined by the relationship between the cams 112and 114 and the crank let), all of which are fixed for rotation withdrive shaft 76. Thus, proper angular orientation of the cams withrespect to the crank will assure that stencil label 20, which lies intray 36, is affixed to the surface of sheet 10 prior to the advancementof the sheet through a selected increment. Hence, rotation of driveshaft 76 through one'revolution will accomplish actuation of thepressure pad assembly while the tractor mechanisms are stationary duringcounterclockwise rotation of the gear segment and movement of the lostmotion means, and continued rotation of the drive shaft will actuate thetractor mechanisms and advance the sheet during clockwise rotation ofthe gear segment while the pressure pad assembly is out of contact withthe platen.

The increment of advancement of sheet 10 attained by actuation of thetractor mechanisms may be changed at will so that apparatus 30 canaccommodate sheets having business forms of various lengths, as well asvarious widths. Since the length of the increment of advancement isdirectely proportional to the arcuate distance traveled by the gearsegment 178, apparatus 30 provides means for selectively varying thisdistance. Thus, stop-screw 184 is fixed upon a disk 190, by screws 192,and the disk 190 is mounted for rotation about point 1'70. A latch 194is pivotally mounted upon the frame of the apparatus at 196 (see FIGURE2) and is resiliently biased into any one of a number of notches 198along the perimeter of disk 190 by a spring 199. A knob 200 is fixed tothe disk 190 for rotation therewith so that when it is desired to changethe increment over which the sheet will be advanced, the latchmay bemanually disengaged from a notch, as seen in FIGURE 10, and knob 200 maybe rotated to rotate disk 190 5 and bring another notch into position'tobe engaged by the latch. Such rotation of disk 1% will relocatestopscrew 184 and thus change the'arcuate travel of gear segment 178 andthe concomitant increment of advancement of sheet 10. By proper locationof the notches 198, apparatus 30 can be set to accommodate any of avariety of standard size business forms having standard lengths.

It will be apparent that the invention provides a compact and effectiveapparatus for facilitating the attachment of stencil labels to anindeterminate length of sheet material at predetermined intervalsthereon. The apparatus 30 is designed to be placed upon a table top andhas feet 202 for such an installation. An operator sits facing forwardand places a stencil label upon tray 36. Then pedal switch 90 isdepressed actuating the drive means through one cycle to actuate theaflixing means and the transport means through one cycle. Adjustmentsfor width and length of the business forms as Well as for the size andlocation of stencil labels handled by the apparatus are accomplishedreadily without requiring dismantling of any portion of the apparatus.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of anembodiment of the invention is provided by way of example only and isnot intended to restrict the invention. Various details of design andconstruction may be modified without departing from the true spirit andscope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for afiixing stencil labels in selected longitudinal spacedrelationship upon sheet material of indeterminate longitudinal length,the labels being of the type which are secured to the sheet material bypressing at least a portion of the label against the surface of thesheet material, said apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a labeling station associated with the housing;

first means for locating at least a portion of the sheet material at thelabeling station; second means for supporting and locating a label inposition relative to the sheet material and the labeling station suchthat at least a portion of the label may be pressed against the surfaceof the sheet material at a desired location thereon at said station;

drive means capable of being selectively actuated through at least onecomplete cycle;

afi'ixing means for striking at least a portion of the label in positionin the second means and pressing said portion against the surface of thesheet material thereby afiixing the label to the sheet material inresponse to the actuation of the drive means through a complete cycle,said afiixing means being movable at least once during said cyclebetween a first position lying away from the label in the second meansand a second position lying against at least said portion of the labeland pressing that portion against the surface of the sheet material atthe labeling station; and

transport means forlongitudinally advancing the sheet material with theaflixed label relative to the labeling station through at least oneselected increment equal to the length of the longitudinal spacingdesired between afi'ixed labels in response to the actuation of thedrive means through a complete cycle.

2. The apparatus 'of claim 1 wherein said affixing means is movable atleast once during said cycle, in response to actuation of the drivemeans, between a first position lying beyond the marginal boundaries ofthe label received in the second means in a direction essentiallyparallel to the plane of the label and the second position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first means includes a generallyhorizontally ex tending platen associated with the housing upon whichplaten the labeling station is located,

the second means includes a platform elevated vertically above theplaten and extending generally horizontally between marginal edges suchthat the sheet material may pass between the platen and the platform andthe label may be placed upon the platform with at least a portion of thelabel extending beyond at least one marginal edge of the platform andoverlapping the sheet material at the labeling station, and

the afiixing means includes a pressure pad movable both horizontally andvertically, in response to the actuation of the drive means, between thefirst pOsition wherein the pressure pad lies horizontally beyond andvertically above said one marginal edge of the platform and theoverlapping portion of the label thereon and the second position whereinthe pressure pad lies against the platen adjacent the one marginal edgeof the platform.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the platform extends at an anglewith respect to the platten so as to bring the overlapping portion ofthe label on the platform into close proximity with the sheet materialat the labeling station while allowing sufi'icient spacing between theplatform and the platten to permit free passage of the sheet materialduring advancement thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sheet material is provided withuniformly spaced apertures aligned longitudinally adjacent at least onelongitudinal margin thereof, and the transport means includes at leastone tractor mechanism having a series of pins, each of which pins iscapable of engagement with a corresponding aperture in the sheetmaterial and movement along a straight line in the longitudinaldirection for effecting advancement of the sheet material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for selecting the length ofthe increment of advancement of the sheet material to accommodate adesired longitudinal spacing between affixed labels.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for selecting the lengthof the increment of advancement of the sheet material includes a drivesegment movable from a first position to a second position and from thesecond position to the first position in response to actuation of thedrive means through a complete cycle,

driven means coupling the drive segment with the transport means suchthat the transport means will advance the sheet material in response tomovement of the drive segment from one of the first and second positionsto the other of said positions, the length of the increment ofadvancement being proportional to the displacement of the segmentbetween K said positions, stop means for limiting movement of thesegment to displacement between the first and second positions,

selection means for changing the position of the stop means to increaseor decrease the displacement of the segment and effect a correspondingincrease or decrease in the length of the increment of advancement, and

lost-motion means coupling the drive means with the drive segment forallowing the drive means to be actuated through a complete cycle whiledisplacement of the drive segment is limited by the stop means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the drive segment is mounted forrotation in opposite directions between the first and second positions,

the driven means includes clutch means for effecting actuation of thetransport means in response to rotation of the drive segment in one ofthe opposite directions only, and

the selection means includes means mounting the stop means for movementto any one of at least two positions in the path of the drive segmentand latch means for selectively maintaining the stop member in oneselected position.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sheet material is provided withuniformly spaced apertures aligned longitudinally adjacent at least onelongitudinal margin thereof, and the transport means includes at leastone tractor mechanism having a series of pins, each of which pins iscapable of engagement with a corresponding aperture in the sheetmaterial and movement along a straight line in the longitudinaldirection for eifecting advancement of the sheet material.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said affixing means is movable atleast once during said cycle, in response to actuation of the drivemeans, between a first position lying beyond the marginal boundaries ofthe label received in the second means in a direction essentiallyparallel to the plane of the label and the second position, andincluding means for selecting the length of the increment of advancementof the sheet material to accommodate a desired longitudinal spacingbetween afiixed labels.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first means includes agenerally horizontally extending platten associated with the housingupon which platten the labeling station is located,

the second means includes a platform elevated vertically above theplatten and extending generally horizontally between marginal edges suchthat the sheet material may pass between the platten and the platformand the label may be placed upon the platform with at least a portion ofthe label extending beyond at least one marginal edge of the platformand overlapping the sheet material at the labeling station,

the afiixing means includes a pressure pad movable both horizontally andvertically, in response to the actuation of the drive means, between thefirst position wherein the pressure pad lies horizontally beyond andvertically above said one marginal edge of the platform and theoverlapping portion of the label thereon and the second position whereinthe pressure pad lies against the platten adjacent the one marginal edgeof the platform, and

the means for selecting the length of the increment of advancement ofthe sheet material includes a drive segment movable from a firstposition to a second position and from the second position to the firstposition in response to actuation of the drive means through a completecycle, driven means coupling the drive segment with the transport meanssuch that the transport means will advance the sheet material inresponse to movement of the drive segment from one of the first andsecond positions to the other of said positions, the length of theincrement of advancement being proportional to the displacement of thesegment between said positions, stop means for limiting movement of thesegment to displacement between the first and second Positions,

selection means for changing the position of the stop means to increaseor decrease the displacement of the segment and effect a correspondingincrease or decrease in the length of the increment of advancement, and

1ost-motion means coupling the drive means with the drive segment forallowing the drive means to be actuated through a complete cycle whiledisplacement of the drive segment is limited by the stop means.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sheet material is providedwith uniformly spaced apertnres aligned longitudinally adjacent at leastone longitudinal margin thereof, and the transport means includes atleast one tractor mechanism having a series of pins, each of which pinsis capable of engagement with a corresponding aperture in the sheetmaterial and movement along a straight line in the longitudinaldirection for effecting advancement of the sheet material.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the platform extends at an anglewith respect to the platten so as to bring the overlapping portion ofthe label on the platform into close proximity with the sheet materialat the labeling station while allowing suificient spacing between theplatform and the platten to permit free passage of the sheet materialduring advancement thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said drive means includes a driveshaft, the drive shaft being rotatable through at least one rotationduring said cycle,

cam means carried by the drive shaft,

follower means associated with the affixing means and cooperativelyengaging the cam means to effect movement of the pressure pad betweenthe first position and second position thereof in response to rotationof the drive shaft, and

crank means carried by the drive shaft and cooperatively engaging thelost-motion means to effect movement of the drive segment between thefirst position and second position thereof in response to rotation ofthe drive shaft.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the drive segment is mounted forrotation in opposite directions between the first and second positions,

the driven means includes clutch means for effecting actuation of thetransport means in response to rotation of the drive segment in one ofthe opposite directions only, and

the selection means includes means mounting the stop means for movementto any one of at least two positions in the path of the drive segmentand latch means for selectively maintaining the stop member in oneselected position.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said drive means includes a driveshaft, the drive shaft being rotatable through at least one rotationduring said cycle,

cam means carried by the drive shaft,

follower means associated with the afiixing means and cooperativelyengaging the cam means to effect movement of the pressure pad betweenthe first position and second position thereof in response to rotationof the drive shaft, and

crank means carried by the drive shaft and cooperatively engaging thelost-motion means to effect movement of the drive segment between thefirst position and second position thereof in response to rotation ofthe drive shaft.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the cam means and the crank meansare so related as to effect movement of the pressure pad against theplatten during movement of the drive segment in the other of theopposite directions, during which movement said clutch means will notengage the drive segment with the transport means, and to effectmovement of the drive segment in said one of the opposite directionsafter movement of the pressure pad against the platten, during whichmovement the clutch means will engage the drive segment with thetransport means to effect advancement of the sheet material after alabel is affixed thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,052,284 9/1962 Weber et al.156-542 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner. M. L. KATZ, AssistantExaminer.

1. APPARATUS FOR AFFIXING STENCIL LABELS IN SELECTED LONGITUDINAL SPACEDRELATIONSHIP UPON SHEET MATERIAL OF INDETERMINATE LONGITUDINAL LENGTH,THE LABELS BEING OF THE TYPE WHICH ARE SECURED TO THE SHEET MATERIAL BYPRESSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE LABEL AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THESHEET MATERIAL, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HOUSING; A LABELING STATIONASSOCIATED WITH THE HOUSING; FIRST MEANS FOR LOCATING AT LEAST A PORTIONOF THE SHEET MATERIAL AT THE LABELING STATION; SECOND MEANS FORSUPPORTING AND LOCATING A LABEL IN POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SHEETMATERIAL AND THE LABELING STATION SUCH THAT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THELABEL MAY BE PRESSED AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THE SHEET MATERIAL AT ADESIRED LOCATION THEREON AT SAID STATION; DRIVE MEANS CAPABLE OF BEINGSLECTIVELY ACTUATED THROUHGH AT LEAST ONE COMPLETE CYCLE; AFFIXING MEANSFOR STRIKING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE LABEL IN POSITION IN THE SECONDMEANS AND PRESSING SAID PORTION AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THE SHEETMATERIAL THEREBY AFFIXING THE LABEL TO THE SHEET MATERIAL IN RESPONSE TOTHE ACTUATION OF THE DRIVE MEANS THROUGH A COMPLETE CYCLE, SAID AFFIXINGMEANS BEING MOVABLE AT LEAST ONCE DURING SAID CYCLE BETWEEN A FIRSTPOSITION LYING AWAY FROM THE LABEL IN THE SECOND MEANS AND A SECONDPOSITION LYING AGAINST AT LEAST SAID PORTION OF THE LABEL AND PRESSINGTHAT PORTION AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THE SHEET MATERIAL AT THE LABELINGSTATION; AND TRANSPORT MEANS FOR LONGITUDINALLY ADVANCING THE SHEETMATERIAL WITH THE AFFIXED LABEL RELATIVE TO THE LABELING STATION THROUGHAT LEAST ONE SELECTED INCREMENT EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE LONGITUDINALSPACING DESIRED BETWEEN AFFIXED LABELS IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTUATION OFTHE DRIVE MEANS THROUGH A COMPLETE CYCLE.
 10. THE APPARATUS OF CLAIM 1WHEREIN SAID AFFIXING MEANS IS MOVABLE AT LEAST ONCE DURING SAID CYCLE,IN RESPONSE TO ACTUATION OF THE DRIVE MEANS, BETWEEN A FIRST POSITIONLYING BEYOND THE MARGINAL BOUNDARIES OF THE LABEL RECEIVED IN THE SECONDMEANS IN A DIRECTION ESSENTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PLANE OF THE LABEL ANDTHE SECOND POSITION, AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR SELECTING THE LENGTH OF THEINCREMENT OF ADVANCEMENT OF THE SHEET MATERIAL TO ACCOMMODATE A DESIREDLONGITUDINAL SPACING BETWEEN AFFIXED LABELS.